Reading
Judgment
The Darkening of the Light.
It is favorable to be persevering in distress.
One must not let oneself be swept along defenselessly by unfavorable conditions, nor bent in one's inner disposition of will. This is possible if one is inwardly bright and outwardly yielding and pliant. Through this attitude one can overcome even the greatest distress. One must, to be sure, under some circumstances conceal one's light, in order to be able to hold to one's will despite difficulties in the immediate surroundings. Perseverance must live in the innermost consciousness and must not come forth outwardly. Only thus can one preserve one's will under difficulties.
Image
The light has sunk into the earth:
the image of the Darkening of the Light.
Thus the noble one lives with the great mass:
they veil their brightness and yet remain bright.
In times of darkness it is important to be cautious and reserved. One should not uselessly draw upon oneself overwhelming enmity through inconsiderate appearance. In such times one should not join in the customs of people, but neither should one critically drag them into the light. In intercourse one must not want to know everything in such times. One must let some things rest, without letting oneself be fooled by them.
Commentary
The sun here has sunk beneath the earth, and is therefore darkened. The name of the hexagram actually means Wounding of the Bright, hence the individual lines also often speak of wounds. The situation is exactly the reverse of the previous hexagram. There, a wise man is at the head, who has capable helpers with whom he advances together; here, a dark man is in a decisive place, through whom the capable and wise are harmed.
Changing Lines
Line 1
A nine at the beginning means:
Darkening of the Light in flight.
He lowers his wings.
The noble one on their wanderings eats nothing for three days.
But they have somewhere to go.
The host has something to say about them.
Commentary
In magnificent resolve one would soar up over all obstacles. But then one meets with hostile fate. One withdraws and gives way. The time is hard. Restlessly one must hurry on without a lasting abode. If one will not make inner compromises, but remain true to one's principles, one comes into want. But one has one's firm goal toward which one strives, even if the people with whom one lodges do not understand one and slander one.
Line 2
A six in the second place means:
The Darkening of the Light injures him in the left thigh.
He effects rescue with the strength of a horse. Good fortune.
Commentary
Here the lord of light is in a subordinate place. He is wounded by the lord of darkness. But the injury is not life-threatening, only hindering. Rescue is still possible. The one affected does not think of himself, but only of the rescue of the others, who are also threatened. Therefore he seeks with utmost strength to save what can be saved. In this dutiful action lies good fortune.
Line 3
A nine in the third place means:
The Darkening of the Light on the hunt in the south.
Their great head is caught.
One must not expect perseverance too hastily.
Commentary
Apparently a play of chance is at work. While the strong and faithful one is engaged in creating order with eager activity, without any ulterior motive, he encounters, as if by accident, the ringleader of disorder and takes him into custody. With this the victory is attained. But one must not pursue the elimination of abuses too hastily. That would be evil, because the abuses have been in force too long.
Line 4
A six in the fourth place means:
He penetrates into the left side of the belly.
One obtains the heart of the Darkening of the Light
and leaves gate and court.
Commentary
One is in the proximity of the head of darkness and thereby learns his most secret thoughts. In this way one recognizes that improvement is no longer to be hoped for, and is enabled in good time to leave the place of misfortune before it breaks in.
Line 5
A six in the fifth place means:
Darkening of the Light as with Prince Chi.
Perseverance furthers.
Commentary
Prince Chi lived at the court of the dark tyrant Chou Hsin, who as the unnamed historical example lies at the basis of the whole situation. Prince Chi was a relative of this tyrant, therefore he could not withdraw from the court. He therefore concealed his good disposition and pretended to be insane. Thus he was kept as a slave, without letting himself be thrown off in his disposition by outer injuries.
From this arises the teaching for those who in times of darkness cannot leave their place. Alongside unconquerable perseverance within, they need outwardly doubled caution to escape the danger.
Line 6
A six at the top means:
Not light, but darkness.
First he climbed up to heaven,
then he plunged down into the depths of the earth.
Commentary
Here the high point of darkness is reached. The dark power had first been placed so high that it could injure all the good and light. But in the end it perishes through its own darkness, for evil must fall in the moment when it has completely overcome the good and thereby consumed the force to which, until then, it owed its existence.